Feels like time for a new pinned post explaining who the heck I am. So here we go:

I'm Samantha. I write. I seek small beauties in daily life. I walk. I read. I bake. I watch old movies.

I'm a "sunny side up, look on the bright side" girl who values comfortable shoes and pretty dresses with pockets.

Blogging about hand-selling my books this week for Open Book. Do you ever buy books at book fairs or festivals from authors vending there? What draws you in? https://samanthadunawaybryant.blogspot.com/2024/05/selling-your-books-in-person-open-book.html #CoSoReaders #CoSoWriters

Quiz time: is this a “pie-knee” or a “pee-oh-knee” where you are?

The last of my alphabet of poets for National Poetry Month: https://medium.com/@mirymom1/z-is-for-lisa-zaran-6b3b1bfa59a9

For IWSG today we're talking about managing distraction in a writing life. What works for you? For me: bribery and building a pattern. https://samanthadunawaybryant.blogspot.com/2024/05/driven-to-distraction-iwsg-post.html #CoSoWriters

Y’all! I moderated a panel at Ravencon yesterday called “Laughter matters.” It was such a good discussion about humor and writing. The audience was so engaged and the panelists were so giving.

Today, a person who was in the audience walked up to my author table and gave me this gift: a block print he made last night with a quote that came out of our discussion. This definitely goes in my mental highlight reel of great moments in my #CoSoWriters

Walt Whitman helps me love myself and everyone else. Open hearted and accepting . https://medium.com/@mirymom1/w-is-for-walt-whitman-always-in-love-dc9be7b27507

Next up in my alphabet of poets: https://medium.com/@mirymom1/v-is-for-c%C3%A9sar-vallejo-the-personal-and-the-political-f23d13e158bf

April is coming to an end and so is my alphabet of poets for National Poetry Month today, I’m talking about Miguel de Unamuno. https://medium.com/@mirymom1/u-is-for-miguel-de-unamuno-quiet-passion-da35dca9f377

Celebrating the ninth birthday of my debut novel. It’s already been quite a journey! #CoSoWriters https://medium.com/we-paw-bloggers/happy-book-a-versary-to-me-34f3c5853490

Another oft-underestimated poet for my National Poetry Month alphabet of poets. https://medium.com/@mirymom1/t-is-for-sara-teasdale-timeless-universality-0ab4bbe60588

You ever feel like you owe an Author apology for misjudging them the first time you read them? I feel that way about Edna St. Vincent Millay. https://medium.com/@mirymom1/s-is-for-edna-st-vincent-millay-sincere-and-direct-149a17f609de

For my alphabet of poets for National Poetry Month I bring you R is for Robert Browning: Dramatic Monologue. https://medium.com/p/3210ffe60250

We’re up to the letter Q in my Alphabet Of Poets for National Poetry Month. Not having a lot of poets whose names start with Q in my personal list of favorites, I found Nizar Qabbani. https://medium.com/@mirymom1/q-is-for-nizar-qabbani-dramatic-declarations-of-love-3ca08797f566

In my Alphabet Of Poets P is for Edgar Allan Poe. I think I was around eight years old when I fell in love with him, or at least with his words. National Poetry Month https://medium.com/@mirymom1/p-is-for-edgar-allan-poe-macabre-magic-921b023acf6a

O is for Mary Oliver in my Alphabet Of Poets for National Poetry Month https://medium.com/@mirymom1/o-is-for-mary-oliver-soul-salve-1ff3cd1cf562

Pablo Neruda is charming in at least two languages. I first read him in Spanish, but he’s great in English translation as well. https://medium.com/@mirymom1/n-is-for-pablo-neruda-love-in-small-things-fcb150edd946

Michelle Boisseau was my teacher once upon a time. Today she’s part of my Alphabet Of Poets for National Poetry Month https://medium.com/@mirymom1/m-is-for-michelle-boisseau-mentor-0dae25155b4e

How was your weekend? My youngest child turned 17 this weekend so I am feeling every bit of my age. But at least they are an awesome person.